Turtles Uncovered
Coming in December!
Turtles have been around for more than 300 million years. Today, though, they are threatened by habitat destruction, pollution, global climate change and by humans collecting them as pets and for food and medicine. Learn how to help save these amazing creatures as you follow the Turtle Trail around the Aquarium. Stamp your turtle passport, get up-close through Live Animal Presentations, and come face-to-face with many different species of turtles, including some of the most endangered sea turtles in the world.
Included with Aquarium admission.
Please Turn ON Your Cell Phones
The next time you visit the Aquarium, bring your cell phones, MP3 players and iPods for entertaining behind-the-scenes glimpses into the lives of Aquarium staff and our many beloved creatures.
Called NEAq Insider, this new audio-visual tour shows interviews of Aquarium staff as they work with penguins, octopus, seals and many more of the Aquarium's popular residents. You'll learn fresh and unusual information about marine animals, the staff that care for them, and the Aquarium's conservation work.
The full video tour can be downloaded to a mobile device at home or in the classroom prior to an Aquarium visit. The audio tour is accessible at the Aquarium via dial-in phone numbers posted at each featured exhibit. Become an NEAq Insider today!
This Ring Still Shines
A New England Aquarium diver performed the aquatic version of finding a needle in a haystack by finding a lost wedding ring in the Aquarium's four-story, 200,000-gallon Giant Ocean Tank more than three months after it was lost.
In early July, guest-diver Bob Pirrmann lost his wedding ring while petting a 560-pound sea turtle named Myrtle. He assumed his ring was lost forever. Aquarium assistant curator Dan Laughlin notified the Aquarium's divers about the missing gold band and hoped it might be found during routine cleaning. Three months passed, though, and Bob even purchased another ring.
A few weeks ago, diver Mike Whyte was vacuuming food debris from several inches of sand near the bottom of the tank when he noticed an unusual shape. In the ultimate aquatic irony, the cherished ring was found nestled safely among the exhibit's finger corals!
Great in 08; Divine in 09
The Celebrate Seafood Dinner Series was such a hit this year that the remaining dinners have completely sold out! Each dinner features a delicious three-course meal of sustainable seafood paired with wine and informative and fun cooking demonstrations by Aquarium and special guest chefs. If you missed your chance to attend one of the events, or if you enjoyed the experience so much, you want to attend one again, don't worry. The 2009 dates have been set, so mark your calendars and sign up after the New Year for the delicious, informative and gourmet evenings.
Tuesday, January 27
Tuesday, April 21
Tuesday, June 23
Tuesday, August 18
Tuesday, October 6
Tuesday, November 10
Blue Lifestyle Tips
This winter, skyrocketing fuel costs paired with the economic crisis could leave many families out in the cold--literally. A recent report estimated that Massachusetts residents will pay nearly 30 percent more to heat their homes this year than last. Energy-efficient homes are beneficial for the environment, so each month, Seabits will include new, easy ways to reduce your heating bills. When the cost of utilities has you seeing red, use these tips to save some green by living blue.
Avoid the fireplace.
One of the least efficient methods of heating your home, a fireplace acts as a vacuum, sucking the warm, already heated air out of your house while drawing in cold air from outside. Minimize the heat loss by turning down the heat in the rest of your home, closing any doors that lead into the room and cracking open the window nearest to the fireplace.
Work interior decorating to your advantage.
Arrange furniture away from baseboards and radiators so heat can flow freely. Replace standard curtains with tight-sealing or quilted window coverings, and make sure no curtains or linens obstruct heat sources. Keep curtains and blinds closed snugly at night, but open them during the day to let the heat of the sun warm your home, and clean south-facing windows regularly to allow maximum sunshine.
Want more blue lifestyle tips? Missed last month's ideas? E-mail seabits@neaq.org.
Gifts That Keep on Swimming
As the holiday shopping season gains speed, keep the Aquarium in mind for eco-friendly presents, stocking stuffers and hostess gifts. Our Gift Shop is open every day (and available online!), so venture down to Central Wharf for
- Plush sharks, seals, turtles and penguins
- Educational games and toys
- Books and DVDs for all ages
- Earth-friendly organic cotton tees and other clothing
- And much more!
And check out our membership packages to give someone the gift of the Aquarium that lasts a full year!
Exclusive Opportunities for Aquarium Members
Members, make sure to take advantage of the
Members' Holiday Shopping Night
Tuesday, December 2, 5:30-8 p.m.
This members-only event is free. Please RSVP by November 26 online.
Round up some friends and head to the Aquarium for a night of private shopping with deep discounts! Receive 20% off almost everything in the store. Also enjoy light refreshments, free gift-wrapping, personal shopping assistance, raffle prizes and crowd-free shopping.
Aquarium exhibits will not be open for this event.
Also, check out the online photos of our most recent members-only event, Fish, Fun and Fright! The event was a great success, in no small part due to the fantastic costumes of our creative members!
Simons IMAX Theatre
Wild Ocean 3D
Grand Canyon Adventure 3D: River at Risk
Dolphins and Whales 3D: Tribes of the Ocean
The Dark Knight
Deep Sea 3D
O Tannenbaum, O Faneuil Hall
Tree Lighting Ceremony
November 22
Festivities throughout the day; tree lighting at 5:30 p.m.
No matter what religion you celebrate, there is always something heart warming about the lights twinkling brightly in the city's giant evergreens. Join the Aquarium in creating holiday magic this year at the Faneuil Hall Marketplace 24th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, featuring live music, your favorite Aquarium characters and a special guest who is very familiar with getting things done on ice. Make sure to check out the star at the top of the tree--there's something "fishy" about it!
Happy Thanksgiving!
In celebration of Thanksgiving, the Aquarium will be closed Thursday, November 27, but you can enjoy special extended hours with the whole extended family on November 28, when the Aquarium will stay open until 6 p.m.
Save the Date: February 5, 2009
Along with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Aquarium will host a climate change symposium to examine the impacts of climate change and acidification on the marine environment. Please contact Vickie Cataldo at vcataldo@neaq.org or 617-973-0235 if you or your organization are interested in attending.
Discover Camp
It may feel like the school year just started, but parents already face the burden of how to keep their kids entertained, educated and active next summer. The simple answer? The Aquarium's Harbor Discoveries Camps. The one- to two-week long programs each focus on different aspects of marine life, from hands-on encounters with amazing animals, immersion into marine conservation and behind-the-scenes peeks at life at the Aquarium.
Registration starts January 5 for members and February 2 for the general public. Programs can sell out within a matter of days.
Upcoming Lectures
The Aquarium Lecture Series is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Programs begin at 7 p.m. in the Aquarium's Harborside Learning Lab.
November 20
Using Technology to Help Protect the North Atlantic Right Whale, Kerry Lagueux, Associate Scientist, New England Aquarium
December 1
Crucial Waters--Reporting on the World's Oceans, Brian Skerry, National Geographic photographer and New England Aquarium Overseer
Marine Studies
The Marine Studies Consortium teaches evening undergraduate courses in marine/aquatic sciences and environmental management. The Biology of Fishes course offered at the Aquarium may be the only ichthyology course in the world where students use the resources of a major aquarium at every class meeting.
Aquatic World in the News
Wedding Ring Found in 200K-Gallon Aquarium
Program Piques Girls' Interest In Science
Acoustic Survey of Whale Populations
